Pickup truck merges into you at 75 mph. You go down hard. Look up from the pavement. Truck accelerating away, already 200 yards ahead. No plate visible. No witnesses stopped. Hit-and-run.
Driver vanished. What now?
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270) makes leaving a crash scene a crime – felony if injury involved, misdemeanor if property damage only. But criminal penalties don’t help you pay medical bills or replace your destroyed motorcycle.
You have three options: file police report triggering criminal investigation, file “phantom vehicle” claim under your UM coverage, or locate the driver yourself through witnesses and cameras. Time is critical – witnesses disperse within minutes, traffic camera footage gets overwritten in 30-90 days, physical evidence disappears with the next rainstorm.
This guide explains immediate actions in the first hour after hit-and-run, how to use UM coverage for phantom vehicles (stricter requirements than standard UM claims), tactics for finding the fleeing driver, and Georgia Crime Victim Compensation Fund as last resort.
What to Do in First Hour After Hit-and-Run
Minutes 0-5 – Call 911 immediately:
Hit-and-run is priority response. Police dispatch BOLO (Be On Lookout) for fleeing vehicle. Every minute counts.
Give dispatcher:
- Vehicle description (make if known, model if known, color, size – “white pickup truck,” “black sedan,” “silver SUV”)
- Partial plate if visible (even 2-3 digits help narrow search)
- Direction fled (“northbound on I-85,” “turned right onto Peachtree”)
- Distinctive features (damage, bumper stickers, roof rack, window tint, missing hubcap)
- Occupant description if visible (gender, approximate age, clothing)
The more detail, the better BOLO. “White pickup” describes 10,000 vehicles. “White Ford F-150 with black toolbox and Georgia plate starting with AZJ” might identify the vehicle within hours.
Minutes 5-15 – Scan for witnesses:
Look for:
- Other drivers who stopped
- Pedestrians on sidewalk
- People in nearby buildings
- Construction workers
- Bus drivers (professional drivers often see crashes)
Get contact information:
- Name
- Phone number
- What they saw (“I saw white truck merge into motorcyclist, then speed away”)
- Plate digits if visible
Don’t assume witnesses will stay or come forward later. Get information now.
Minutes 15-30 – Photograph everything:
Scene documentation:
- Your bike position (multiple angles)
- Debris field (broken plastic, glass, metal fragments may have come from fleeing vehicle)
- Road damage (skid marks, gouge marks)
- Your injuries (blood, road rash, swelling)
- Surrounding area (traffic cameras visible, nearby businesses with cameras)
Physical evidence from fleeing vehicle:
- Paint transfer on your bike
- Broken pieces (mirror, bumper fragment, headlight lens)
- Fluids (oil, coolant may have leaked from damaged vehicle)
This evidence proves contact occurred – critical for UM phantom vehicle claim later.
Minutes 30-60 – Canvas for cameras:
Walk or drive immediate area identifying:
- Traffic cameras (intersections, highway monitoring)
- Business security cameras (gas stations, shops, restaurants)
- Residential doorbell cameras (homes facing the road)
- Dash cams (vehicles that passed, especially commercial vehicles)
Ask business owners: “I was just in hit-and-run crash at [location]. Do your cameras cover the road? Can I get footage?”
Many businesses retain footage 7-30 days before overwrite. Request immediately, not next week.
Using Your UM Coverage for Phantom Vehicles
Uninsured motorist coverage (covered in Post #22) applies to hit-and-runs under “phantom vehicle” provisions. But requirements are stricter than standard UM claims.
Georgia UM policy typical phantom vehicle language:
“We will pay damages for bodily injury to an insured caused by accident arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of an uninsured motor vehicle provided… physical contact of the insured or vehicle the insured is occupying with the hit-and-run vehicle… the accident is reported to police within a reasonable time.”
Three strict requirements:
Requirement #1 – Physical contact:
Must prove fleeing vehicle actually touched your motorcycle. Can’t claim:
- “Car cut me off, I braked and crashed but no contact” → Denied
- “Car swerved in front, I took evasive action and went down” → Denied
Must show:
- Paint transfer (their paint on your bike, or your paint on debris from their vehicle)
- Debris exchange (their mirror/bumper fragment at scene)
- Damage patterns consistent with vehicle impact
- Witness testimony of actual collision (“I saw truck hit the motorcycle”)
Why this requirement exists: Prevents fraudulent claims. Without contact requirement, riders could claim any crash was caused by “phantom vehicle that drove away.”
Gray area – Road debris argument:
If you crashed avoiding road hazard left by fleeing vehicle (tire tread, cargo that fell off truck), some courts have allowed phantom vehicle claims arguing indirect contact. But this is uncertain – most insurers deny without direct vehicle-to-vehicle contact.
Requirement #2 – Police report filed:
Must report hit-and-run to police. Oral report to officer at scene suffices, but written police report is proof you met this requirement.
Get police report number. Request copy of report within 7-10 days (available through Georgia law enforcement agencies or BuyCrash.com).
Requirement #3 – Reasonable effort to identify driver:
Can’t just say “driver fled, I made no effort to find them, pay me.”
Must show:
- Witness canvassing (talked to people at scene)
- Camera review (contacted businesses, requested footage)
- Partial plate search (if you got any digits)
- Physical evidence preservation (kept debris, photographed paint transfer)
- Follow-up with police (checked investigation status)
Insurance companies scrutinize phantom vehicle claims heavily. They assume fraud until proven otherwise. Build evidence file showing you made genuine effort to locate driver.
Filing phantom vehicle UM claim:
Report to YOUR insurer within policy timeframe (typically “reasonable time,” interpreted as 30 days but check your policy):
“I was involved in hit-and-run crash on [date]. Driver fled scene. I reported to police immediately [report number]. I have witness information and physical evidence of contact. Filing phantom vehicle claim under my UM coverage.”
Provide:
- Police report
- Witness statements
- Photos of paint transfer/debris
- Medical records
- Damage estimates
Insurer investigates same as standard UM claim (covered Post #22) – examines fault, injuries, damages. But also verifies you met phantom vehicle requirements.
Finding the Driver: Witnesses, Cameras, Plates
Sometimes you can locate the fleeing driver yourself.
Partial plate search:
If you got any plate digits:
- Tell police (they run database search)
- Note vehicle make/model (narrows results – “AZJ + white F-150” much smaller universe than just “AZJ”)
- Check your own photos/video (helmet cam may have captured more than you saw in moment)
Georgia requires front plate, so fleeing vehicle has two plates potentially visible.
Traffic camera footage:
Contact:
- GDOT (Department of Transportation) for highway cameras
- City/county traffic management (for intersection cameras)
- Police can subpoena if investigating criminally
Request footage immediately. Most systems overwrite after 30-90 days.
Business camera canvas:
Gas stations, convenience stores, shopping centers, restaurants near crash site. Ask:
“I was in hit-and-run crash at [time] on [date] near your location. White pickup truck fled. Do your cameras cover the road? Can I see footage or can you preserve it for police?”
Many businesses cooperate. Some require subpoena. Getting footage quickly increases chance of ID before overwrite.
Social media appeal:
Post on local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, Reddit:
“Hit-and-run crash at [location] on [date] at [time]. White Ford F-150 with front-end damage, possibly plate starting AZJ. Anyone with information or dash cam footage please contact me or police [report number].”
Sometimes works. Neighbors have doorbell cameras, other drivers have dash cams, witnesses who didn’t stop see the post and come forward.
Body shop canvas:
Hit-and-run vehicles have damage. Canvas local body shops:
“White F-150 with front-end damage from crash on [date]. Driver may bring for repair. If you see vehicle matching description, please contact police [report number].”
Offer reward if legally permissible. Body shops sometimes tip police for reward.
Salvage yards:
Driver may scrap damaged vehicle to hide evidence. Contact salvage yards:
“White F-150 possibly brought in after [date] with front-end damage. Police investigating hit-and-run [report number].”
Physical evidence analysis:
Paint transfer can identify vehicle color. Debris fragments (mirror housing, bumper pieces) may have manufacturer markings indicating make/model.
Accident reconstructionist analyzes:
- Paint chip (color match to specific manufacturers)
- Plastic fragments (cross-reference parts databases)
- Damage pattern (indicates vehicle height, impact angle)
This narrows search even without plate.
When driver is located:
Police arrest if evidence supports hit-and-run charge. You can:
- File claim against their insurance (if they have insurance)
- Sue them personally (if uninsured or underinsured)
- Amend UM phantom vehicle claim (if already filed) to add identified driver as defendant
Finding driver after UM phantom claim filed doesn’t void claim – you can pursue both.
Georgia Crime Victim Compensation (Last Resort)
If driver never located and you have no UM coverage, Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program provides limited benefits.
What it covers:
- Medical expenses: up to $25,000
- Lost wages: limited (typically 2 weeks)
- Funeral expenses: up to $10,000 (wrongful death)
What it doesn’t cover:
- Pain and suffering (no non-economic damages)
- Property damage (motorcycle, gear)
- Full wage loss
Requirements:
- Crash must be reported to police within 72 hours
- Must cooperate with police investigation
- Application filed within 1 year of crash
- No other compensation source available (if you have UM coverage, must exhaust that first)
Application process:
File with Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). Application online or by mail.
Provide:
- Police report
- Medical bills
- Wage loss documentation
- Statement of what happened
Decision typically within 60-90 days.
Why this is last resort:
$25,000 cap doesn’t cover severe injuries. No pain and suffering. No property damage. If you have UM coverage, phantom vehicle claim provides much better recovery.
Crime Victim Compensation is safety net for victims with no insurance and no other options.
Hit-and-Run Action Protocol
Immediate (0-30 minutes):
- Call 911 now – criminal investigation starts, BOLO dispatched
- Scan for witnesses – get names and contact info before they leave
- Photograph everything – scene, bike, injuries, debris, paint transfer
- Note vehicle description – make, model, color, distinctive features, direction fled
Same day (hours 1-24):
- File detailed police report – describe vehicle, provide witness info, show evidence
- Request footage – traffic cameras (GDOT, city/county), business cameras, residential cameras
- Preserve physical evidence – debris fragments, paint chips, damaged parts
- Social media appeal – post description, ask for witnesses/footage
Week 1:
- Follow up with police – investigation status, any leads, BOLO results
- Canvas body shops – fleeing vehicle may need repair
- Request police report copy – documentation for UM claim
- Contact YOUR insurer – notify of phantom vehicle claim potential
- Consult attorney – phantom vehicle claims require strict proof, attorney helps meet requirements
Week 2-4:
- Gather evidence package – police report, witness statements, photos, medical records
- File phantom vehicle UM claim if driver not located
- Continue driver search – check salvage yards, follow up leads
Month 2-3:
- UM claim investigation by YOUR insurer
- Settlement negotiation or litigation
- Continue parallel track – if driver located later, pursue them directly
Driver found later: great, pursue their insurance or sue personally. Driver never found: UM phantom vehicle claim is only recovery option (or Crime Victim Compensation if no UM coverage).
Don’t assume police will find driver. Many hit-and-runs go unsolved. Your evidence gathering in first hours may be only chance at recovery.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Georgia motorcycle accident law and is not legal advice. Every case is different. Consult a qualified Georgia motorcycle accident attorney to discuss your specific situation. Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship.